Electric time switch



Oct. 11, 1932- pp 1,882,495

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH Filed Sept. 11, 1931 g is to provide a switch of this Patented Oct 11, 1932 ANDREW RIPE, 01? BALTMQEE, marinara 'ELECTBIQ THEE SW'ITGEI Application filed September 11,1881. Serial He, rcaeva.

This invention relates to electric switches and has special reference to a time controlled switch.

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of time switch by "means of which current may be turned on and ofi at a number of time intervals during a day or longer.

A second im ortant object of the invention is to provi e an improved switch of this character wherein means exist by which a circuit may be closed. t any desired time, kept closed for a desired time and then opened. '1

A third important object of the invention character having means arranged to close a circuit and open the same atconsecutive time intervals, the means being so arranged that the circuit may be maintained closed fora time greater than the normal 'time between two consecu tive closings of the circuit and may be maintained open for a time greater than between two normal time intervals between closings.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved switch. Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged face view of a portion of an improved switch actuating dial used herewith.

Figure 4 is a section onthe line 4-4 of Fi ure 3.

igure 5 is a perspective view of one of the circuit closer actuating blades used herein.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed there is provided a base and from the front edge of this base rises a standard 11 formed preferably of sheet metal which supports the front plate 12 of a clockwork mechanism 13 of ordinary character except for the addition of certain wheels which will be specifically described. 7.11 front of this mechanism is a dial plate 1% which is held in spaced relation in front of the plate 12. This dial plate carries the dial 15 over which travel the hour hand 16 and minute'hand 17 the dial being provided with the usual time indicia 18. One of the wheels 19 of the clockwork 13 meshes with a pinion 20 supported on a staff 21 between the plates 12 and 14. Meshing with the pinion 20 is a gear 22 fixed on a stafi' 23 which also carries a pinion 24. The pinion 24: meshes with a gear 25 fixed upon the staff 26 which projects forwardly from this plate 14c and carries on its forward end a drum 27 having in its front face a series of radial slots 28. In the form of the invention here shown there are tWenty-four of these slots and the gear arrangement is such that the drum makes one complete revolution each twenty-four hours so that the time interval between two successive slots occupying the same position is one hour. Slidably mounted in each of these slots is a blade having a relatively wide outer end 29 and a relatively narrow inner end 30 corrugated to provide proper friction against the sides of the respective slot.

The portion 30 lies wholly within its slots and these portions are held from forward movement out of said slots by a cover plate 31 secured to the staff 26 by a screw 32 as clearly shown in Figure 4. The front edge of each blade projects forwardly from the face of the drum and is abruptly shouldered at 33 so that a suitable calibrated tool (not shown) may be used to move the blades'radially outward to project from the periphery of the drum a desired distance.

, Mounted on a pivot 34 carried by the plate 12 just above the drum is a bell crank having a downwardly extending arm 35 which normally lies with its lower. end just grazin the periphery of said drum. This bell cran also has a laterally extending arm 36. A tilting arm 37 is mounted at one end on a pivot 38 carried by the plate 12 and rests, in spaced relation to the pivot 38 on the bell crank. The arm 37 carries a cradle 39 wherein is mounted the tube of a mercury switch 40 hava ed on an insulating block 43. By this means connections may be made to wires 42 of the circuit to be controlled.

Preferably part of the drum face is black- 5 ened or colored as at 43 to distinguish betwee'ffthe night hours and the daylight hours and hour indicia 44 are shown on the face of the drum. I

In utilizing the device whenever it is desired to close the circuit at a certain hour the blade pertaining to that hour, as indicated on the drum at 44, is moved to project peripherally from the drum. Then when the drum has been rotated by the clockwork, in the direction of the arrow on Figure 1', to bring the blade into contact with the bell crank arm the bell crank will be tilted upon further movement of the drum and the right hand end of the arm 37 will be raised so that the mercury in the switch will run to the left and bridge the usual contacts thus closing the circuit. When the blade passes free from the arm 35 with which it has been engaged the arm 37 will drop and the circuit will be 25 broken. Obviously, the greater extent of the blade the lon er it will be in engagement with the bell crank and the longer the circuit will remain closed.

The extent ofv projection of the blade can so obviously be made such that the arm will be engaged before dropping by the next succeeding blade if the latter is projected. Thus the circuit may be maintained closed for a time greater than one hour. For instance if three successive blades being fully projected and the next be projected only to an extent suflicient to keep the circuit closed for fifteen minutes then the total time the circuit will be maintained closed for a total time of three hours and fifteen minutes. Obviously, if one or more consecutive blades be pushed fully in the circuit will remain open or a greater time than one hour.

Under these circumstances it will be seen that this circuit closer or timeswitch is especially adapted to such circuits as those used with oil heaters and the like where it is desirable to stop operation during certain hours at night, close the circuit for a considerable time in the early morning to restore the heater to its normal daylight operating conditions and then close the circuit from time to time to maintain the daylight conditions.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified. i

, It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

carrying said switch, and a bell crank pivot- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a time switch, a clock work rotated drum having a series of radial slots, blades each mounted slidably in a respective slot to project from and be housed in the drum, a tilting switch arranged to close a circuit when tilted, and means toLtilt said switch actuated by said blades when projected from the drum.

2. In a time switch, a drum, a clock work means to effect revolution of said drum, blades carried by said drum and movable to project therefrom, a tilting switch arranged to close a circuit when tilted, and means to tilt said switch actuated by said blades when projected from the drum, said bladesholding the switch closed in accordance with the extent of projection .of the blades.

3. In a time switch, a clock work rotated drum having a series of radial slots, blades each mounted slidably in a respective slot to project from and be housed in the drum, a tilting switch arranged to close a circuit when tilted, and means to tilt" said switch actuated by said blades when projected from the drum, said blades hdlding the switch closed in accordance with-the extent of projection of the blades.

4. In a time switch, a drum, clock work means to effect revolution of said drum, blades carried by said drum and movable to project therefrom, a tilting switch arranged to close a circuit when tilted, a pivoted arm ed between said drum and arm and having one arm in the path of the blades when projected and the other arm supporting said arm.

5. In a time switch, a clock work rotated drum having a series of radial slots, blades each mounted slidably in a respective slot to project from and be housed in the drum, a tilting switch arran ed to close a circuit when tilted, a pivote arm carrying said switch, and a bell crank pivoted between said drum and arm and having one arm in the path of the blades when projected and the other arm supporting said arm. a j

6. In a time switch, a drum, clock work means to effect revolution of said drum, blades carried by said drum and movable to project therefrom, a tilting switch arranged to close a circuit when tilted,-a pivoted arm carrying said switch, and a bell crank pivoted between said drum and arm andhaving one arm in the path of the blades when projectcd and the other arm supporting said arm, said blades maintaining ent with the first arm in accordanoe mem tent of projection. I i

7. In a timeswitch, a clockwork rotated drum having-a series of radial slots, blades each mounted alidably in a respective slot to pro ect from and be housedin the drum,a tiltmg cloaea circuit whom-130 tilted, a pivoted arm carrying said; siwiteln and a bell crank plvoted between said! and arm and having one arm in the n the blades when projected and the other arm supporting said arm, said biaaies' main taining engagement with the first arm in ec cordance with the extent of projectipn,

In testnnony whereofA NDREW H122, 

